Study shows that some whale species go through menopause

[Tobi]

(08-28-2018, 02:42 PM)Catherine Wrote: I think we will need to study whales more to understand the purpose of menopause for them. Also I wonder what other species experience menopause that we have not even looked at.



I have to wonder, do whales have hot flashes and if so what do they do about them. Do they have something that is the equivalent of "chocolate" in their diet.  I wish I could talk to an older whale female and compare notes.

This finding is extremely interesting. I didn't know that about Belugas. Maybe like you say, there are other species who also experience menopause which we don't know anything about yet.

Being under water is an ideal solution for hot flushes! Or being in the fridge! I used to open the freezer compartment of the fridge at my mother's house- (which was centrally heated even in summer) -and just put my arms in it. I didn't even care about sticking to the ice. But I was so hot that the ice melted quickly. (My mother told me off for doing that -said I was making everything in the fridge too warm!)

But whales? They are already in the cool water. Maybe they don't get hot flushes.  I hope not!